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The last avalanche forecast for the 2018/2019 season was posted on Sunday April 21st. Thank you to all who have supported the avalanche center through volunteer hours, field observations, and financial support.

Warmer temperatures, strong sunshine, and less wind should allow enough warming for loose wet avalanches to become possible today. These could be small or large enough to have more serious consequences for backcountry travelers. Larger loose wet avalanches could occur on long, steep, sun-exposed slopes. Any size loose wet avalanche could be problematic in areas where terrain traps magnify its severity. As more daytime warming occurs, this problem will become more widespread.

Triggering a wind slabavalanche has become unlikely in the majority of areas. Unlikely does not mean impossible. A surprise wind slab failure cannot be ruled out in some isolated locations especially in complex or extreme terrain including couloirs, cliffy areas, unsupported slopes, and steep convex rollovers. Larger triggers like large cornice failures may also still be able to release an avalanche.

Variable, challenging, firm, wind affected snow conditions will exist in areas where difficult to triggerwind slabs may still linger. Avoiding these less fun snow conditions in favor of the softer snow that should still remain in more sheltered terrain could provide more enjoyable recreation and help avoid potentially unpleasant wind slab surprises.

* Yesterday observations from the Incline Lake Peak area revealed firm wind slabs on multiple aspects. Tests on the newer wind slabs still yielded some unstable results. Tests on the older wind slabs did not show signs of instability. All observations indicated that these wind slabs are becoming more difficult to trigger.

* A natural avalanche occurred on Jobs Sister. It was seen from a distance and details about its size, trigger, and type remain uncertain. It may have been triggered by rockfall.

Weather and CURRENT CONDITIONS

weather summary

A high-pressure ridge continues to build over the region. Expect clear, calm weather through the weekend. Daytime highs should also continue to warm a few degrees each day with cold low temperatures during the nights.

Weather observations from along the Sierra Crest between 8200 ft. and 8800 ft.

This avalanche forecast is provided through a partnership between the Tahoe National Forest and the Sierra Avalanche Center. This forecast covers the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass on the north and Ebbetts Pass on the south. Click here for a map of the forecast area. This forecast applies only to backcountry areas outside established ski area boundaries. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. This forecast expires 24 hours after the posted time unless otherwise noted. The information in this forecast is provided by the USDA Forest Service who is solely responsible for its content.

For a recorded version of the avalanche forecast call (530) 587-3558 x258

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This website is owned and maintained by the non-profit arm of the Sierra Avalanche Center. Some of the content is updated by the USDA avalanche forecasters including the forecasts and some observational data. The USDA is not responsible for any advertising, fund-raising events/information, or sponsorship information, or other content not related to the forecasts and the data pertaining to the forecasts.